The UK will bring the Black Hornet into the MOD's core equipment program

18.09.2015

Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

The British armed forces have invested GBP 23 million to keep two of its unmanned air systems (UAS) bought for use in Afghanistan into its long-term inventory.

Announced on 17 September during DSEI 2015, the contracts will bring the Prox Dynamics Black Hornet nano-UAS and the Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III mini-UAS into the Ministry of Defence's core equipment programme - and so remain in service post-Afghanistan.

Philip Dunne Minister of State for Procurement said in a statement that "Black Hornet and Desert Hawk proved their worth in Afghanistan, providing essential intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to our troops."